158a) Ouachita Trail

The Ouachita Trail is a rugged 222.5 mile trail that begins at Talimena State Park in Oklahoma, and winds its way up and down the Ouachita Mountains, which is one of the few mountain ranges in the United States that extend east to west. This scenic and demanding trail ends at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Arkansas.
For my March Break, I have teamed up with hiker extraordinaire, J. Hikesalot, to hike the first 121.7 miles…
Day 1 of 8
Sunday, March 12th, 2023.
Mile 0 to Mile 16.8 (Holson Valley shelter)
(27 kilometres)
9:41am to 7:04pm (with 30min break 3 to 3:30)
8.75 hrs
Day 2 of 8
Monday, March 13th, 2023.
Mile 16.8 to Mile 34.1 (Pashubbbe shelter)
17.3 miles (27.8kms)
8:16 to 6:50 (with 45 minute break)
9.75hrs
Day 3 of 8
Tuesday, March 14th, 2023.
Mile 34.1 to Mile 51.5 (Queen Wilhelmina Lodge)
17.4 miles (28kms)
8:01 to 7:10 (no significant break)
11hrs
Day 4 of 8
Wednesday, March 15th, 2023.
Mile 51.5 to Mile 69.0 (Foran Gap shelter)
17.5 miles (28kms)
8:22 to 5:52 (no significant break)
8.5hrs

[@williamcook3705]

This is Bill. We met at the Holson Valley Shelter. Enjoyed your video, especially your morning comments about how delightful it is the begin again after a good restorative sleep. True even for an old man. Thanks.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Hi, Bill! I totally remember you! Thanks for watching! I can’t wait to come back to do the second half. Please stay in touch! 🥰🙏🏼✌🏼

[@ansona705]

Great lodge!! OMG you're such an Energy Punch, a Powerhouse, a Fire Cracker. Big miles and big accomplishments. Love the detail of all your videos you explain it all so well. And of course, the clearest, best voice on KZbin. Way to go! Thanks for keeping her company and keeping her safe J! WITW is a Canadian National Treasure! Oh and you're approaching 3000 subscribers!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

I know! I can’t believe it! I’m so thankful and thrilled! 🥰🙏🏼

[@mechcavandy986]

We really enjoyed this video Christina. You have a new biggest fan - Jay’s mom, Donna. She’s loving it. Your book too. And I can say I really enjoyed meeting you. Come back and see us soon. Jay’s step dad, Andy. 🤠🤠🤠

[@Womaninthewoods13]

How amazing to hear from you! Please say hello to Donna for me! Tell her that I am loving "The Sun is a Compass!" I am thrilled you two have enjoyed this video and that Donna is enjoying my book. Jay has a copy of my first book, too, that she can read, if she likes, when she is done that one. Also, I will be publishing the second video of my and Jay's hike in the next few days. Please stay in touch! 🥰🥰🥰

[@Mountian-Zen]

Nice, lots of water …. enjoyed watching part 1.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Yay! I hope you’ll enjoy part two, too! 🥰

[@Wheeets]

My love. Incredible 😍

[@Womaninthewoods13]

The only thing missing was you. ❤️

[@DUHOVED_FOR_RELAX]

*꧁ Все окей🐻 Благодарю 👌 ꧂*

[@wanderingstar1111]

Hey Christina! Wow another marathon of a hike. So cool you got to meet up with Jay again so soon & do this together! I'm amazed that he's able to go so fast in that type of terrain & long days. I'm glad you are enjoying yourself & all the hard work you're putting in. Look forward to watching part 2!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Miss Star! Yes, it was very cool to team up with Sir Hikesalot! I can’t wait to do the second half. I saw your February hike of the boardwalk hike in Algonquin! I also did that one in the snow (but recently). Take care and keep in touch, my friend. 🥰🙏🏼✌🏼

[@wanderingstar1111]

@@Womaninthewoods13 thanks Christina! I saw you have a winter Algonquin video ! It's on my list to watch. Yeah the Spruce Bog trail is beautiful, but sooo short. Great though if you don't have a lot of time & just wanna get a quick walk in 😊

[@Womaninthewoods13]

@@wanderingstar1111 I’m on a mission to hike all of the Algonquin day hikes. I only have a few left to do! Have you ever done Centennial Ridges or Track & Tower? They are my favourite. I saw a massive moose up close on the latter just last Sunday! 🥰

[@wanderingstar1111]

@@Womaninthewoods13 no i've only somewhat recently started exploring Algonquin! And im not able to get up there too often. But I definitely want to do both those trails. Mizzy Lake is also high on my list 😊 I really like seeing all the videos you post from Algonquin!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

@@wanderingstar1111 I’ll have another from there for you tomorrow! 🥰

[@gabefresh1661]

Saw your name on Camping with Steves channel, Great video!!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Thank you for giving me a chance! Welcome! 🥰

[@3rdjrh]

Here from camping with Steve 😊

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Thank you for giving me a chance! I hope you enjoy my channel! 🥰

[@campfire52]

I just returned from a trip myself and it looks like you have uploaded a couple of pretty fine videos for me to watch (of what appears to be quite an interesting hike.) At least things are going pretty well so far with the weather except for a little chilliness here and there. You were well pretty prepared for that though I believe. I am moving on to the next video now, see you there.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

I’m also behind on reading comments, so forgive me! How was your trip? Was it a camping trip?

[@campfire52]

@@Womaninthewoods13 It was a camping trip to the coast and it did go very well. Rainy and windy but nice anyway. Take care.

[@birddog1449]

At approx 31:14 while talking at Pashubee, did anyone hear the Turkey gobble? I did not (at first) but my wife did, se we replayed it and sure enough , " Gobbbbbbble"

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Haha, gobble gobble! 🥰

[@dan393]

Awesome to see you doing the OT this go around! You are doing some high mile days for that terrain. Looking forward to next section.. Happy hiking and god bless

[@Womaninthewoods13]

It really kicked my butt, and I loved every minute of it. Became easier after the first three days. 🥰

[@wesleydavis4012]

Haha that's where I'm at Fort Smith but I'm about to move to Hot Springs. Originally from Maryland but I discovered Arkansas 3 years ago and have not left as of yet. Anyways, cool to see someone from a cool place visiting.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

I can understand why you stayed. Yes, I was quite the anomaly on the trail, having flown in from Canada to hike it. And I’ll be back yet again, too. Good luck with your move! 🥰

[@rungavagairun]

I went through this section in November/December of 2023. It was super dry. I had no wet crossings and many of the creeks you crossed were bone dry. The Pashube river just past the shelter there. Completely dry. Many of the Kiamichi valley creeks and tributaries were either dry or muddy puddles. Crazy how different the area can be depending on the time of year.

[@rungavagairun]

49:00 Why can't we have signs without bullet holes in Arkansas?? Anyone?

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Wow, that is a crazy difference! I hope all the dry spots didn’t cause you any hardships. Were you nonetheless able to meet your hiking goal?

[@rungavagairun]

​@@Womaninthewoods13 If it had not been for trail angels caching water at a couple spots, I would have been in trouble. Very grateful to them. There was an almost 30 mile stretch between that creek just before Foran Gap and the next source of water. I think it was Brushy Creek. My intention was to do the whole trail, but I had to take a zero at Queen Wilhelmina due to storms, and by the time I reached Blue Bell, I was ready to be done, so I ended my trip there. I live in Arkansas, so I can finish the eastern half in sections over the course of a few weekends. I think if I had forced myself to finish I would have absolutely hated it the whole way.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

@@rungavagairun Excellent. I’m glad you finished on your own terms and not because of the lack of water. It’s a great trail and I look forward to doing the second half at some point, I don’t know when! It’s a little further for me than it is for you, ha ha. 😊🥾🥾✌🏼

[@karenbergmann209]

So much for bridges over the creeks 😊. Glad you had company. Well done!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Right!? Haha. Still, way fewer water crossings than the OHT. Thanks for watching, my friend. 🥰

[@kenthomson8555]

Great video of another amazing journey, awesome job, will be looking forward to the second half. Watching these videos without the three feet of snow keeps me excited for when I can get back out on the open trails with the flowing creeks and waterfalls. Glad you clarified why your pack weighed more than J's but still seems to be a big difference. Liking the new water shoes as well, seem a little more secured to your feet and thinking if you needed to like here, better to walk a bit in than the crocs.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Hi, Ken! Nice to hear from you. These water shoes are actually the shoes I wore for my bike ride from Toronto to Vancouver. Yes, they are better than the Crocs I bought as they are secured to my foot. I’m looking forward to returning to Algonquin as soon as possible, by the way! I’ll be sure to be in touch when I do pass by. Take care and see you on the next video! 🥰

[@rogergiddy2634]

Another great video, thanks for taking us along & looking forward to the second half

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Thanks for stopping by, Mister Giddy! 🥰

[@squirrel_bait]

Oh this is so cool! I am so glad you two got to hike together and .....back to Arkansas! Cool!!!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Yes, very cool, on so many levels. 👁️❤️AR!

[@stephenbouchard8075]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Thanks for watching! 🥰

[@terrivermillion8763]

Ozark Highlands Trail, Quachita Trail, plus the Ozark Trail, is the Triple O. Full immersion in the Ozarks. 😁

[@Womaninthewoods13]

I’m very aware of the Triple O! I haven’t heard any stellar reviews of the Ozark Trail, though. Have you hiked any of that one?

[@terrivermillion8763]

@@Womaninthewoods13 I have hiked some on the OT and in the general area. It isn’t the same as Arkansas. Missouri is lower in elevation. I enjoy both areas, but they are different. Each has it’s own beauty. Most people don’t consider the OT as highly as the OHT. It just depends on what a person is looking for. I just wanted to mention the Triple O in case you hadn’t heard of it.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

@@terrivermillion8763 Thanks! 😊✌🏼🙏🏼

[@garagebrewer]

Wow, we almost crossed paths. My teenage son and I hiked from Winding Stair campground to Kiamichi River on Tuesday and from there to the lodge on Wednesday, just a day behind you. We adjusted our schedule to avoid the rain on Thursday. I guess I'll get to see what we missed in your next video. I'm also looking forward to the preview of my next few sections too. This is really well done and can serve as a valuable resource for anyone who wants to hike this trail.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Omg! That would have been so cool! Darn!

[@ervinslens]

Absolute gorgeous presentation, atmosphere is phenomenal as usual. Shot at 26:38 is just great!

[@Womaninthewoods13]

That was shot by my hiking partner. A rare opportunity to have someone else to film. 😊

[@birddog1449]

Thanks for sharing . Looking forward to seeing miles 70-121.7

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Birddog! 🥰

[@bigcat880]

Awesome journey with great views as always! Curious to know how American trails compare to Canadien trails?! Love all your hikes regardless!🥰

[@Womaninthewoods13]

Hi, Big Cat! I would say there is no noticeable distinction between an American Trail and a Canadian Trail. But I would say that each and every trail, regardless of location, has its own personality and feel. I haven’t yet met a trail I didn’t love! 🥰

[@kimberlyalbers4116]

Nice Video - I saw you fill up with water several times without using a water purifier. Do you use Iodine tablets before drinking the water?

[@Womaninthewoods13]

I use Aquatabs. 😊

[@birddog1449]

Still waiting on 158b.

[@Womaninthewoods13]

It’s almost ready. Maybe tomorrow. 🥰🙏🏼✌🏼

[@birddog1449]

@@Womaninthewoods13 Thank you.

[@wesleydavis4012]

You come from Toronto to hike here in Arkansas? That is ridiculousness...haha

[@Womaninthewoods13]

That is awesomeness, you mean! 🤣🥰✌🏼